Promoting student involvement at VET system level in the Netherlands

The EQAVET Dutch National Reference Point held a peer review on promoting student involvement in VET quality assurance at system level, recognizing students as key stakeholders and participation a priority.

CINOP, the EQAVET Dutch National Reference Point, hosted its online peer review on 12 and 13 March 2026 focusing on promoting student involvement at VET system level. 10 EQAVET Network members from Belgium-fr, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia acted as peer reviewers.

The main objective of the peer review was to support the hosts in ensuring that student participation at system level goes beyond informal representation structures and contributes substantively to quality enhancement.

In the Netherlands, students are considered a key stakeholder for education quality. The involvement of VET students in society, notably politics, is a policy priority, as 40% of the Dutch workforce has a VET diploma.

VET students are represented by JOBmbo, the national VET student association and main stakeholder. JOBmbo is well recognised by the VET ecosystem; included in national processes and the development of policy documents such as the Work Agenda for VET and the VET Work Placement Act; and collaborates with VET stakeholders including the Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate and MBO Raad, the national council for VET providers. At VET provider level, student involvement is integrated in the entire policy and quality cycle.

However, students have a limited understanding of and interest in QA. Despite some incentives, their participation in QA at system level is based on informal representation structures and the involvement of students from minorities is currently minimal.

Read the flash report summarizing the main outcomes of the discussion.

Additionally, a separate report containing detailed feedback from the peer reviewers will be shared with the host country.

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